- LONDON: Britain said on Wednesday its jets had attacked troops loyal to Muammar Qaddafi in three different areas, a day after the deposed, fugitive Libyan leader taunted NATO by saying its bombing runs would not last.
At the pro-Qaddafi desert enclave of Bani Walid, British aircraft destroyed a command-and-control facility and then demolished a second such target at Hun, 200 miles (260 km) to the southeast, the Ministry of Defense said.
It said Tornado GR4 warplanes then hit a former school in Qaddafi’s hometown Sirte that had been commandeered as a base for armored vehicles and anti-aircraft artillery.
On Tuesday, Qaddafi said in a recorded speech: “The bombs of NATO planes will not last.” British Foreign Secretary William Hague insisted shortly afterwards that NATO’s military action in Libya would go on as long as needed.